Attachment for doors



Filed June 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l (Ill INVENTORS flE/v/PY FKE/L Am 564002.41

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATTACHMENT FOR DOORS Application June 23, 1936, Serial No. 86,730

11 Claims.

This invention relates to attachments for doors for providing in the latter or like parts an interiorly controllable aperture to permit inspection through the door.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, practical, inexpensive and dependable door attachment of the above-mentioned type. Another object is to provide an attachment of this character that is constructed of parts in- 19 dividually capable of inexpensive manufacture and which parts may be readily and dependably assembled. Another object is to provide a wicket or socalled door interviewer that is foolproof in construction and operation, is compact, neat and 15 attractive in appearance, and of thoroughly reliable and dependable construction and action. Another object is to provide a device of this general character in which the manual control and manipulation thereof from the one side of the door or wall is simple and in which awkwardness of manual movements is eliminated. Another object is to provide a device of this general character in which its control or manipulation may be achieved by simple and natural manual move- 25 ments. Another object is to provide a device of this general character in which various indicia such as identification of names or apartments may be readily assembled thereto at will, and thereby to meet varying commercial demands 30 with a minimum of expense of construction. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements,

3;, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is 40 shown one of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device as installed in or on a door and as seen from the exterior of the latter;

45 Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof, as seen from the inside face of the door or wall;

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional view, as seen along the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary or detached sectional 50 view on an enlarged scale showing how certain of the parts are connected together and more particularly as seen along the lines 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detached sectional" 55 View on an enlarged scale showing how certain other parts are interrelated and more particularly as seen along the lines 5--5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an elevation, as seen along the line 6-6 of Figure 3 showing one of the fixed frame parts;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view, as seen along the line 'II of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a detached rear elevation of the lower portion of the exterior frame part, and

Figure 9 is a rear elevation of a detachable in- 10 dicia-bearing device adapted for interrelation with the frame part shown in Figure 8.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views in the'drawings.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, I have indicated at II] a wall or door panel to which the device is to be related, the device preferably, though not necessarily, comprising two frame parts, namely an exterior frame part I I, related to the outside face of the door panel, and an inside frame part I2 related to the inside face of the panel II].

The outside frame part I I is plate-like in form or shape having a peripheral flange I3 extending completely thereabout excepting for a gap or interruption I4 therein at an intermediate point in that portion thereof that extends across the lower rear edge of the frame part I I. Flange I3 is adapted to rest against the outer face of the panel I0 (see Figure 3) and the latter has a round hole I5 cut into it of a diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of a substantially cylindrical flange I6 in the frame part II, the cylindrical flange I6 in effect framing a round hole or opening IT in the frame part I I. The flange I6 is of an axial extent to be received in the panel hole I5 and thus to obscure the walls of the panel hole I5 itself.

As is better shown in Figures 1 and 3, the lower portion of the front frame part I I on its exterior, has integrally formed therewith appropriate means for receiving a card which can bear, for example, the name of the occupant of the room or apartment; such means might comprise a U- 5 shaped flange I8 (Figure 1) shaped in cross-section as is better shown in Figure 3 and across the upper ends of this U-shaped flange is a crossbar I9 between which and the front wall of the plate member I I may be slipped the card in question.

The frame member II also has formed in it and upon its rear face and at suitably distributed points, illustratively two, about and exterior of the flange I6 (Figure 1) bosses 20, preferably cylindrical in shape and drilled and threaded as is better shown in Figure 4. These bosses are entered into holes or recesses that are drilled in the panel Iii at correspondingly spaced intervals about the hole l4 therein so that the bosses 20, with their threaded holes, are thereby presented to and available from the inside of the panel I0. They are to receive screws, as is later described, and the bosses, in being received in holes or recesses in the panel Ill, thereby prevent rotary shifting of the outer frame part II and also of the inner frame part I2 which is secured to the former by the above-mentioned screws.

The frame part I2 is in general and preferably somewhat disk-like in shape and it is better shown in Figure 6. It is provided with counter sunk holes 2! spaced appropriately to become respectively juxtaposed to the threaded holes in the above-mentioned bosses 20 of the front plate or frame l I and through the holes 2| are passed screws 52 (Figures 2 and 4) which, when drawn up, effectively clamp the panel it] between the inner and outer frame parts I i and i2.

The inner frame part I2 (Figure 6) is provided with a suitable number of horizontally extending apertures A, illustratively three in number and shaped illustratively as is shown in Figure 6; they are positioned so that they are juxtaposed to the hole or aperture ii in the front plate i i (see Figures 1 and 3) and extending vertically to either side of the apertures A are two guide rails or ribs 22 and 23 (see Figures 6 and 7). These guide rails extend downwardly somewhat beyond the circular portion of the'frame part I2 and that portion is likewise extended downwardly in be tween these guides (ii- 23 substantially as shown in Figure 6. In this downwardly extended portion of the frame plate I2 and on the rear face thereof is formed arecess or groove generally indicated in Figure 6 by the reference character 24, and it will be seen to be substantially U-shaped in elevation, thereby providing two vertical portions 25 and 26 joined by a horizontal but upwardly concaved portion 21.

Groove 2 forms part of a housing or cage for receiving a ball 23 (Figures 2 and 3), it being noted, therefore, that the ball under the action of its own weight, normally occupies a position at the center of the horizontal concaved portion 27 of the groove and just underneath the shoulder or abutment 29 intervening the vertical portions 25 and 26. As is later explained, however, the ball maybe moved upwardly along the groove into either of the portions 2 5 or 26.

Resting fiatwise against the rear face of the rear frame part I2 and dimensioned to be received between the guide ribs 2223 is a vertically slidable plate 30 (Figures 2 and 3) being guided for vertical sliding movement in part by the guides 22 and 23. Sliding plate 30 is provided witha suitable number of apertures B (Figures 2 and 3) shaped like'the apertures A, respectively, but so posi tioned that when the plate 36 is in its lowermost position, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the crossbar portions intervening the apertures of one member cover over the apertures of the other.

member but if the plate member 30 is slid upwardly by an amount proportional to the width of these cross-bar members, the apertures B in the member 36 become registered with the apertures A in the frame member l2, thereby permittingsighting through the device and permitting the occupant of the apartment, or the like, to look out and through. As will later be seen, the ball 28 and the U-shaped groove or channel 24 (Figure 6) and certain related parts preferably take part in determining the range of sliding movement of the cover plate 30.

Suitable means are provided for holding the sliding plate 30 against movement away from the frame plate I2, and illustratively and preferably this means comprises one or more, illustratively two, slots 31 (see Figure 6) extending in a vertical direction and of a length commensurate with the desired distance of travel of the plate 30 necessary to cover or uncover the apertures or slots A in the frame member I2. These slots 3| (Figure 6) are distributed in any suitable way, illustratively one of them is located adjacent the lower end of the guide rib 22 and the other is located adjacent the upper end of the other guide rib 23. These slots, as is better shown in Figure 5, are stepped or counterbored, as at 32, to accommodate the heads of screws 33 (Figure 5) threaded into the cover plate 36.

Cover plate 30 is preferably provided with two bosses 34 (Figures 5 and 2 receivable, respectively, into the two slots 3| and of a length sufficient to project slightly into the undercut slot portion 32 and these bosses 34 are threaded to receive the screws 33. When the latter are driven home into the threaded bosses 34, the heads thereof are accommodated in the enlarged slot portion 32, and free and easy sliding movement of the cover plate 30 with respect to the frame plate I2 is achieved while holding these two parts against separation.

The above-described arrangement of screws 33 also serves as a detachable connection between the cover plate 39 and the frame plate l2 and as a convenient means for permitting the insertion of the ball 23 and a subsequent prevention, as it were, of loss of the ball. For this purpose, also, the lower end of the cover plate 30 (Figure 2) is provided with a slot generally curved and upwardly concaved, as viewed in Figure 2.; the slot has a uniform width somewhat less than the diameter of the ball 28 and, as is clearly shown in Figure 2, the walls of the slot are undercut or beveled as at 35*.

Accordingly, before assembling the sliding plate 30 to the frame member I2, as by the screws 33, the ball 28 is first laid in the U-shaped groove 24 (Figures 3 and 6) and then the cover plate 30 laid against the frame member 52 in between the guide ribs 22, 23 and with the arcuate slot 25 superposed over the lower portion 21 of the U-shaped groove 2d, the configuration of which lower portion 2? it substantially follows or matches. The screws 33 may now be driven home.

The location of the slots 3i is, moreover, such that when the frame member I2 is assembled to the panel I6 and the outside frame member H, as above described, the slots 3|, 32 fall outside of the hole l5 (Figure 3) in the panel I 0 and are closed by the face of the panel IO itself. Thereby access to the screws from the outside of the panel IE] is dependably precluded.

The side walls of the U-shaped groove 24 are also beveled or tapered, as shown in Figure 6, and the parts are so proportioned with respect to the diameter of the ball 28 that, as is better shown in Figure 3, ball 28 becomes caged, cannot drop out, but is caged between the parts I2 and 30 with sufficient looseness so that it may be freely moved manually by a finger of the hand which contacts those portions of it that project through or are exposed by the arcuate slot 35 (Figure 2). This looseness of assembly, furthermore, is such that the ball 28 seeks and maintains a lowermost possible position, by its own weight, aided by the weight of the sliding plate itself and the radius of curvature of the groove 24 (Figure 6) and the slot (Figure 2) is sufficiently small to cause the lowermost point in its curve and hence to cause the normal or gravity-actuated position sought by the ball 28 to be just underneath the tongue-like abutment 29 (Figure 6) which separates the portions 25 and 26 of the U-shaped groove 2%. The cover plate 30 is provided with a knob-like projection 36 (Figures 2 and 3) positioned as shown at the trough formed by the upper bounding edge of the arcuate slot 35. In normal or closed position, therefore, the knob-like handle portion 36 is just above the outwardly projecting ball 2%, as shown in Figure 2.

Accordingly, any attempt to raise the sliding plate 30 from the exterior of the panel Iii, as by an implement inserted through the apertures A, cannot succeed because any tendency to move the plate member 30 upwardly is met with a corresponding tendency to carry the ball '28 upwardly (see Figure 2) but the ball cannot move in that direction because of the central abutment 29 (Figure 6) which is thus in its path. If desired, the lower edge of the abutment 29 may be downwardly concaved slightly, as at 29* (Figure 6) thus providing a seat out of which the ball 28 cannot roll or be cammed under any upward pressure exerted on it by an attempt to move the plate member 30 upwardly.

From the inside of the panel ll), however, the sliding closure member 30 may be easily released. The thumb or forefinger of the hand is preferably employed and with a simple movement (see Figure 2) the ball 23 is shoved or rolled either to the right or left along the slot 35, and is brought substantially to one side or the other of the knob 36; the two parts 28 and 36 thus form in effect jointly a sort of composite projection or knob against which upward pressure of the thumb or finger is exerted and in response to which the cover plate 36 moves upwardly, ball 28 moving upwardly along either of the upward extensions 25 or 26 (Figure 6) of the U-shaped groove 24, depending upon the direction in which the ball 28 is initially given a lateral movement.

Upward movement of the plate 3!] is limited either by the ball 28 bottoming in the upper end of the corresponding vertical portion 25 or 26 of the groove 24 or the coaction between the slots 3| and the bosses 34 (Figures 5 and 6) may be utilized to limit the range of movement. Thereby the apertures B are brought into registry with the apertures A and sighting through the panel door or the like may be proceeded with.

To close the device and thus again cover over the apertures A, the operator simply releases the parts engaged by the finger or thumb whereupon the weight of cover plate 353 slides the latter downwardly and the weight of the ball 28, supplemented, if necessary, by the weight of the sliding plate 36, moves it downwardly along the vertical portion 25 or 26 of the groove 24. The bosses 34 in the cover plate 3!! now coact with the slots 3! (Figures 5 and 6) to halt the downward movement of plate 30 at a point such that apertures A (Figure 3) are covered over and 24. The above-described looseness of arrangement of the parts plus the shape of the lower edges of the slot 35 and groove portion 27 cause the ball 28 to roll to its mid position and again to remain just underneath the abutment 29 (Figures 3 and 6).

We have above described a means for relating to the outside-of the construction a means for detachably carrying a name plate or other identifying indioia. Frequently, however, it is desired that there be exposed on the outside of the channel It) also a means of identifying the number of the apartment, by way of illustration. In past practice, therefore, it was necessary to construct different forms of devices according to the different demands or requirements met with in practice, and that frequently entailed additional burden and expense, such as additional castings, tools, stock, or the like. But in accordance with our invention, we provide a device in the form of a plate (Figures 1 and 3), preferably die cast, having a rectangular portion 48, preferably provided with a rib-like border d2, for bearing such additional identifying indicia as the apartment number, illustratively, and as shown in Figure 1, the identification Al23. This plate member 40 is adapted to rest fiat against the outside of the panel l0 (see Figure 3) and it has an upward extension 43 (see now Figure 9) generally rectangular in shape and joined to the plate portion 4| by a neck 44.

On the reverse or inner face of the lower portion of the outer frame member H, where the flange i3 is interrupted at I 4, as was above described, we provide a rib 45 (see Figure 8) preferably integral with the front frame member 6 i, shaped to form with the interrupter flange portion it a rectangle dimensioned to receive the extension portion 43 (Figure 9) of the plane member 40, preferably with a friction fit. The neck portion 44 (Figure 9) thereby extends through the gap H! in the rib i3 and the portions of the latter to either side of the gap 1 3 are received in the narrow slots or spaces to either side of the neck 44; here again the parts may be dimensioned to form a snug friction fit.

Accordingly, when it is desired to furnish and install a device having additional identifying indicia, the device 4% is related to the front frame portion 1 i in the manner above described, the

parts being correlated as to external shape (see I Figure 1) so as to maintain continuity of design or configuration, and when the outer frame member H is secured to the panel In, as was abovedescribed, the device 40 becomes in effect a permanent part of the installation inasmuch as it cannot be removed without removing the front frame H. As appears better in Figure 3, the portion 43 becomes locked between the panel l6 and the frame member I I. Furthermore, wobbling of the part 46 relative to the frame part i I in any direction, cannot take place, due to the interlocking and interfitting of the various correlated portions of both.

The indicia, such as AI23 preferably comprises characters made of paper, colored in any suitable color, and then pasted or glued to the smooth face of the panel portion 4|. In Figure 3 one of the characters is indicated at 56 in crosssection, thus secured in place. Thereupon, the thus assembled character or characters and the exposed portions of the panel 4| are painted or coated with a transparent lacquer 5| (Figure 3), the latter having good adhesive qualities and thus, upon drying or solidification, forming a transparent covering that not only is protective of the applied indicia or characters, but also aids in holding the latter dependably in assembled relation to the panel portion 4|.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided in this invention a device of the character described in which various objects hereinbefore noted, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved. The individual parts of the device are simple and inexpensive in construction, may be readily die cast, and assembled with great ease and speed. Moreover, installation of the device proceeds with like simplicity and celerity. Furthermore, in operation the device is exceedingly simple and dependable and achieves dependably security in practical use. Also, it will be seen that it is well adapted to meet the varying requirements of hard practical use.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:-

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, an apertured member having 6X- posed on its rear face a groove, said groove having a vertical portion and a downwardly inclined lower portion above which is an abutment, a closure member, means mounting the latter for sliding movement relative to said apertured member and having a transverse slot adapted to register with said second-mentioned portion of said groove, and a rolling member in said groove and exposed through said slot, said rolling mem ber normally assuming a position underneath said abutment but being movable along said second portion of said groove and upon upward movement of said cover plate being movable along the first portion of said groove.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said cover member has a knob-like extension forming a fingerpiece positioned above one end of said slot, whereby said rolling member may be moved to the other end of its slot as a finger of the hand is put into engagement with said fingerpiece.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, an apertured member adapted to be secured over an opening in a door, wall, or the like, a slidable cover member therefor, means mounting said cover member for sliding movement in a vertical direction relative to said first member, a ball, and means cooperatively relating said ball to both of said members, said means including an abutment on the first member and a guiding slot in the second member through which said ball is exposed, said slot being positioned to give the ball a range of movement into or out of juxtaposition to said abutment.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, an apertured member, a closure member therefor, means movably mounting the latter with respect to the former for movement into aperture-covering or uncovering position, one of said members having a groove exposed toward and normally covered by the other member, said groove having a portion extending in the direction of movement of said closure member relative to said apertured member and a second portion extending at an .angle to said first portion, a wall of said second portion forming a stop, and a shiftable member in said groove and held therein by said other member, whereby, when said shiftable member is in said second portion, said shiftable member is operatively related to said stop and movement of said movable closure member is prevented, said other member having means through which said shiftable member may be shifted out of said second portion and away from said stop and into alinement with said first portion of said groove for thereby permitting movement of said closure member with said shiftable member moving along said first portion of said groove.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, an apertured member, a closure member therefor, means mounting the latter for movement relative to the former so that its own weight effects movement into closing position, a rolling member, means on one of said members forming a guide whereby said rolling member by its own weight rolls into a certain position, and stop means related to the other of said members juxtapositioned to said rolling member when in said certain position.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, an apertured member, a closure member therefor, means mounting the latter for movement relative to the former, .a ball, said two members having coacting means forming raceways for retaining said ball, one of said raceways extending transversely of the direction of movement of said second member and the other having a portion extending in the direction of movement of said second member.

'7. In a device of the character described, in combination, two members having means whereby one is mounted for movement relative to the other, one of said members having a U-shaped groove and the other having a transverse slot substantially registering with the lower portion of said groove when said members are in one relative position, and a rolling member in said groove and coacting with said slot.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 in which there is provided means limiting the relative movement between said two members so that said rolling member may bottom by its own weight, when said members are in one relative position, in the center of the lower portion of said U- shaped groove.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination, a device having an aperture with closure means therefor and adapted to be related to an opening in a door, wall, or the like, said device having a rearwardly flanged portion for engaging against the front face of said door, the flange of said portion having a gap therein, and an indicia-bearing device adapted to rest against the front face of said dcor and provided with an extension joined thereto by a neck, said neck being received in said gap and said extension taking in back of said front portion.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 in which the rear face of said front portion has a seat communicating with said gap and having a shape substantially like that of said extension whereby the latter is snugly received therein.

11. In a device of the character described, in combination, two members, one of which is an apertured member and the other of which is a closure member therefor, said members having means whereby one is mounted for movement relative to the other, one of said members having a groove that has two portions, one of which extends in the direction of relative movement between said two members and the other portion extending substantially transverse thereguideway for permitting or preventing relative to, and the other member having .a substantially movement between said two members according transverse guideway substantially registering to the position of said shiftable member along with said second portion of said groove when said guideway.

5 said members are in one relative position, and HENRY F. KEIL. 5

a. shiftable member in said groove and confined ADAM SCHOOREL. therein by and coacting with said transverse 

